Sea of Thieves

Rare delivered a completely new kind of game, mainly focused on letting people create their own adventures alone or with friends, and where everyone is on a level playing field. While the game succeeds in this delivering a very entertaining and visually stunning experience, we feel that it would have greatly benefited from more encounter/mission types and a richer world lore. Hopefully this will be addressed in the coming months.

Sea of Thieves plots a course in the opposite direction of most big budget, predictable affairs. Loot is not about gaining power, and the thrill is in the voyage, not the destination. This may alienate some gamers, but it is a breath of fresh air for those willing to embrace the change. However, Rare will soon find the community clamoring for more content and improved social options to keep players invested and using their freedom to create limitless and fascinating stories.

An amazing world full of promise, but currently rather empty. More updates will be key. [May 2018, p.74]

Visually, you’ll be repeatedly awed while you’re playing by some of the vistas the game shows off. From a gameplay standpoint, all of the mechanics are sound and solid, ships behave predictably and will obviously slow down when you’re trying to sail into the wind, and your guns and swords kill enemies as long as you use them right. The in-depth content might not be there quite yet, but if you give it a month or two, given what Rare has said about further content, you may very well be pleasantly surprised on that front too.

At its core, Sea of Thieves is a fun, innocent experience that rewards spontaneity and imagination, but becomes rather dull and repetitive if you want a linear experience. As part of Xbox Game Pass, Rare’s Sea of Thieves is more than worth the time you will put into it.

Ye know, the sea is beautiful, and sailing in a crew is a delight, filled with sea shanties and barrels of grog. But alone, it’s a life fraught with peril, and while those who like to wander might be fine with it I need a bit more…guidance in me life, I s’pose. More camaraderie. More reward. I risked me life on those waters day in and day out, but I didn’t get as much as I wanted. In a word? Fine. It be fine.

Sea of Thieves offers a very unique experience by putting players in the role of pirates and throwing them out in a massive, detailed world. Team-up with a few friends and you’ll enjoy every second of your time.

Rare have been clear about their goal of wanting players to create their own stories within Sea of Thieves, and it is safe to say they’ve succeeded. Let’s hope they can keep the ship on course.

Sea of Thieves is all journey with no real destination, but if that doesn't immediately turn you away, it'll be a pirates life for you.

Cooperation with other players is essential in Sea of Thieves for any action. It doesn’t matter if you know the other players or not, Sea of Thieves is capable of creating the most fun moments that we've experienced in an online multiplayer.

Sea of Thieves is a disgustingly enjoyable game that is endlessly entertaining among friends. That said, it has an incredible deficit of organized content, too few customization options, and needs a bigger, more varied world map. I have no doubt that as the game grows and evolves, it will become an iconic, phenomenal title, but for now it remains deeply flawed even while being relentlessly fun.

Sea of Thieves is not yet the dream game. But it is the most important release of the first part of 2018, and not only for Xbox. Rare has created a wonderful world at a technical, audiovisual and gameplay level. But theor work is not yet finished, and now it's time to fill it with all the good ideas they've already shown they can deliver.

It’s packed with the studio’s trademark charm and humour, while providing endless opportunities for adventure. A touch more accessibility for solo players would be nice, as would more varied matchmaking for crews, but this is a game that’s set to evolve over time. A real treasure.

Sea of Thieves is wholly dedicated to keeping players on equal footing. Someone who’s been playing for a day can crew up with someone who’s been playing for months, and neither will have an inherent advantage — save, of course, the latter’s experience with the game. It’s a bold move meant to keep the entire community playing together, and early indications suggest it works.

Sea of Thieves is a very risky game. Not only does it come out after very successful multiplayer projects like Diablo, Borderlands and even Destiny, but it presents some difficulties in trying to play with other users and in some of its confusing progress mechanics. But when you are able to play it with people willing to achieve the goal missions and to be communicative, the experience changes completely for the best.

Sea of Thieves shines most brightly when playing with friends. The gameplay is both fun and accessible, and the technical aspects of the game are truly wonderful, but everything is weighed down by the lack of additional content and greater variety.

A good effort but a shallow offer in its genre. Its success depends on the post-launch support provided by Rare, because there's a distinct lack of content in the existing game.

We always have a great time playing Sea of Thieves, but we need more content and options to give us a reason to come back. It’s something unique, so make sure you try it and decide if this pirate life is for you.

Sea of Thieves may not be the best pirate game in terms of content, but it is surely a lot of fun to play.